Ray Allen celebrates after making the 2,561st three-pointer of his career, setting an NBA record.

But the Lakers stole some of the thunder, rallying from a 15-point deficit in the first half to win 92-86. "We needed to prove to ourselves we could come into this hostile environment and win," said guard Kobe Bryant, who had a game-high 23 points as the Lakers (37-16) split the season series.

Pau Gasol added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who got a sorely needed victory against one of the league's top teams. Andrew Bynum, the subject of trade rumors in the never-ending Carmelo Anthony saga, finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Boston (38-14) dropped into a tie with the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference after losing for the third time in four games.

Paul Pierce had 15 points for the Celtics, who came in shooting an NBA-best 49.7% and shredded the Lakers for 60% shooting in their 109-96 victory at Los Angeles on Jan. 30, but went cold after a strong start in this one and finished at 40%.

Allen, 38, missed his three-point first attempt but hit his second one straightaway with roughly four minutes left in the first quarter. That tied him at 2,560 with Miller, who was courtside for TNT.

Allen came right back down the next possession and tried another to break the record but missed. He missed on his next three-point attempt, too, with roughly 2½ minutes left in the quarter, but hit the record-breaker from the right side of the court with 1:48 to go in the first.

All-time sharp shooters

Most three-pointers in NBA history

Ray Allen

2.562

*Reggie Miller

2,560

Jason Kidd

1,754

*Dale Ellis

1,719

Peja Stojakovic

1,719

Chauncey Billups

1,690

Rashard Lewis

1,667

*-retired

"I almost felt a little embarrassed because there was so much attention surrounding this three-point record," Allen said. "It was so overwhelming, but it was a great moment. I'll remember this for the rest of my life."

Allen walked over to Miller — who held the record since surpassing Dale Ellis in April 1998 — during the next break.

"It's so serendipitous that it happened the way it happened," Allen said of breaking the record with Miller in the house. "He just told me he was proud of me and he was excited for me. He said he was glad that he could be here."

It was a big first half for Allen, who also had a dunk among his team-leading 14 points as the Celtics took a 53-45 lead. He was in foul trouble in the second half and finished with 20 points, including another three-pointer.

"I'm just so happy for him because this is one of the best guys," Miller said on TNT. "This is great for the game of basketball. You know why? We're focusing and talking about shooting."

Down eight at halftime, Los Angeles return from the locker room with a 10-0 burst, and it was back and forth the remainder of the third quarter. The Lakers scored six consecutive points late in the period, the last two in painful fashion after Odom tipped in Gasol's miss, then their heads collided as they turned to run downcourt. Los Angeles led 72-68 after three.

Sporting a large bandage on his forehead, Odom opened the fourth with a three-pointer, but the Celtics were only down three midway through the period before Bryant made two jumpers and a layup to push the lead to 88-79 with 3:12 remaining. Boston got back within five, but Bryant found Gasol for a bucket underneath, then finished it off with a jumper with 48 seconds to play.

Allen, in his 15th NBA season, is having his best three-point shooting season, at 46.2%. He made his first three-pointer Nov. 1, 1996, for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Philadelphia 76ers and hit the record-breaker in his 1,074th game, compared with Miller finishing his career in his 18th season at 1,389 games.

Miller took 6,486 three-point attempts to 6,430 for Allen to set the record. Allen is hitting his three-pointers at a better career percentage, too, 39.8% to 39.5% for Miller, and will be participating in the three-point shooting contest at next weekend's All-Star festivities in Los Angeles. Allen won it in 2001; Miller's best showing was second.

"He's just a machine," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said before the game. "He shoots every day. He works on it. He runs every day. You look at his body. If you're a young player, just look at Ray Allen if you want a long career. He's the ultimate pro."

Contributing: Wire reports

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